Before Gov. John Hickenlooper wedding, lawmakers give him a send-off

Legislators surprise Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and his fiancee Robin Pringle as they throw rice on the couple after the State of the State address in the House chambers at the State Capitol on January 14, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. The Governor’s speech lasted about 45 minutes. (Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post)

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper’s finished his 5,000-word State of the State speech and shook hands as he walked down from the dais and prepared to exit the House chamber.

It is a ritual he repeated five times before Thursday, but this one ended differently.

As the governor made it to the seat of his new fiancée, Robin Pringle, Senate President Bill Cadman stopped him.

“With the governor having his wedding on Saturday, I think it would be appropriate for a few of us who didn’t get the invite …” Cadman started, as laughter filled the chamber.

“He really is cheap isn’t he?” he continued to more laughs and a few groans. (“She told me that,” Cadman pleaded in his defense, referring to a conversation with Pringle.)

“Since we weren’t invited, we thought it would be appropriate to offer you an official send off from the newly renovated House,” Cadman said. “Colleagues, present rice.”

The couple, who plan to marry Saturday, turned to see lawmakers throwing handfuls of rice into the air above them.

In an interview in his office after the speech, Hickenlooper said he thought the send-off was “pretty classy.”

“It’s still in his hair,” interjected Kathy Green, his communications director.

“It’s always embarrassing when people throw food at you,” Hickenlooper added, “but I thought it was a gesture of affection and I thought it was in the best spirit possible.”

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.